Disclaimer - no own Full Metal Alchemist, falalalalahhh

Statement: Been a while cause of coursework I desperately had to hand in. This story is starting to bore me, it needs more variety! Things are really draggin aren't thye? Context is mostly manga based.

NOTE: Really, really modified a lot of the previous chapter three. Chapter four is somewhere below, though I recommend rereading the whole thing. I'll be going to Beijing soon - minibreak for me. Check back after August 21st.

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Part the two: Unwanted presence

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"W-what the f-fuck?", was all Edward managed to gasp. He could not believe this.

"It's nice to see you here", Alphonse said, similarly star struck but altogether far more pleasant.

There was a moment of silence as they stared at Colonel Mustang and Hawkeye. Several dozen questions whizzed through the Elrics' head. First of all, why were not in their military uniforms like a good soldier should be? And why was Mustang of all people in a wheelchair? Was he playing with 'injuries'? Ed half expected this to a total ruse.

"It had better be...", he hissed between clenched teeth. Winry broke the uncomfortable silence with a quick laugh. Why did Mustang always turn up and ruin things? Like to hell with his damn explainations, that bastard.

"So...Umm--"

"Why are we here?" Riza cut in smoothly. Winry was taken aback at the slim, elegant lady that the gun-wielding Lieutenant had transformed into. She nodded vigorously.

"Well, suffice to say, Colonel Mustang has sustained some injuries in an--". Roy lifted a hand to silence the Lieutenant.

"I'll explain," he said curtly, lacking his usual smug, superior tone. He turned to the tense Elrics. "Let's just say I'm sick and I need a place to stay and the further away from Central the better, especially--"

"Sick? Don't give me that crap! I'm sixteen! If you're hiding something then say it now!" Edward snapped. He wasn't that angry, just suprised. Roy glared at him for interrupting.

"--especially when I'm more than often the target of many enemies. I was attacked by a few suburban terrorists when the patrol was off du--." The elder Elric snorted rudely in disbelief.

"The Great Flame Alchemist? Caught off duty and ends up in a wheelchair? Oh come on, nobody would take that!"

"Believe me, Edward," Roy snapped, peeved, "when I'm back in Central, I'll assign you to enough paperwork to keep you busy for a month! Then you'd really be doubting how much trouble the past few weeks have been!"

"Anyway," Al interjected hurriedly, "where did you say you were staying?"

"We haven't made the arrangements yet but until then, we've decided to stay at your accommodations for convenience," Riza stated with as much a straight face as she could.

Ed exploded, though imploded was the more accurate description, Mustang had thought in aftermath.

"Bastard! Can't you ever stay out of our business? So you think we're after the Philosopher's Stone? You think you can find out everything just by staying at our house? Do you know how pathetic this i---uhhhhhh--".

"Temper, temper, Fullmetal," Mustang clicked disapprovingly. He was being downright provocative and he knew it, "You can't say that to a superior now, can you?"

"Shut up, you lech!", Edward said, though without much effect. "Besides, getting other accomodations wouldn't be a hard task for someone of such superiority." Emphasis was placed on the last word. Roy smiled charmingly, as if he was having a hard time of admonishing adamant but thick-skulled infants. "Actually, it's with the security issues. For reasons of my own, I've begun to suspect that there are Homunculi infiltrating the government--"

"You mean they're spying in on you?" the older Elric said in a disbelieving voice.

"Actually working, Fullmetal," Mustang cut in smoothly. "I'm the target of many opponents, whether Homunculi or human." The smaller alchemist harrumphed in surprise. He had forgotten the fact that the Colonel was the Amestris Militia's Flame Alchemist, capable of blowing up small buildings. And in the process of his career, picked up alot of trouble.

a/n - ok, more author interruption Dies. Stuff is getting more and more confused and the plot is quite flimsy. I'm gonna bury myself inna minute D:& - and thanks for all the reviews so far. The response was better than expected since I consider myself a bit of a 'lurk' type and a second rate author. I love you all for being so nice. So on with the story.

"You mean they actually work in the government? Don't pull my fucking leg if you don't have to, Mustang!"

"You mean the metal one or the other?" he still had the effort to pull on his lazy and wide smirk, which was probably worthwhile since he just loved working Edward into a big mess.

"Bullshit, you know what I mean!" the furious boy made a sideways slash with his arm. God, did Roy really have to make such a joke out of everything? Then as if he had read his mind, Mustang's voice began in a lazy drawl.

"Do explain, Edward," he remarked, dropping other titles, "I never joke. I think it would be you, but it's been quite a while and I dare say you've...grown?"

"Screw it, bastard! You just know where to poke and prod, aren't you?"

"No...no, I thought not. You haven't grown one bit--"

"WHO ARE YOU SAYING IS SO SHORT HE CAN ONLY EVER SEE PEOPLE'S KNEES?"

The Colonel had to admit that it was an impressive display of temper that hadn't dulled in the few monthes he had not seen Edward.

"I apologize then, Fullmetal."

"You'd better--"

Hawkeye snorted impatiently. "It's all settled then is it?". Edward was about to refuse but he saw the 'weapon' bulge ominously against the tight waistband of her pretty dress and guessed he had two options. Say no and suffer or agree and have a helpless Roy Mustang hanging around, not to mention a lot of hassle. But his life was always priority. Otherwise, Al would never see a day with his body back.

He nodded tersely and sighed in resignation. Winry stared quietly, her mouth open. Al was likewise. They'd be talking about this for

days behind his back. Oh shit. Just his luck.

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It wasn't a far distance between the station and the Pinako's residence but Hawkeye had firmly stated that the Colonel was in 'no state to travel on such unforgiving terrain' and therefore required an escort of a vehicle. She took to a truckdriver milling beside the ticket booth and pushed roughly past the throngs. Al couldn't hear what she said but the deal as done in a matter of seconds. But he secretly knew, indubitably, it was probably an unfair deal, since Hawkeye did carry personal arsenary in her clothes. They clambered onto the spacious albeit straw and dirt strewn floor of the vehicle's rear. The driver came round and pulled a face at the motley ensemble before he got into the front.

"Where did you say you guys were 'eaded?" his voice was croak, like saliva had coagulated in his voicebox. Al shuddered at the unappetizing thought.

"Pinako's, you know, the Rockbell's..."
"Yeah, goddit!" then turned around, looking twice. "Edward an' Al! Ain't seen youse' in eons! Where'd you go?"

Everyone's attention shifted to the pint-sized Alchemist. He'd only been staying at Pinako's for two weeks. The rest... He mumbled, tripping over consonants, vowels and the whole vocal shebang. "Uh, n-nowhere really, I was paying a visit to s-some f-friends..."

The driver's mug cracked into a wide grin. He pulled a soggy cigar from his denims and proceeded to light it but with no avail.

"Damned thing--Ahh. Whatever..." He shoved it in his mouth, chewing the tobacco. His passengers visibly winced though he was obviously unperterbed.

"So then, Eddoes," - Edward choked on the nickname-slash-insult. It was like being called Eddo-kun. Eugh. - "who're these chums?" the driver waved a cursory four digited hand - the fifth was missing - at Mustang and Hawkeye. The blond haired being glared murderously at him. There was a pause as several possible excuses floated above his head. None seemed to qualify. And just when things were on the verge of transforming into a silly faux pas, Winry barged in, eyes shining with unarguable innocence.

"Oh, they're just cousins. Visiting, on a minibreak from Central..." she intoned, not missing a beat. Smoothly, flawlessly, like an authentic con man. With that, she shooed the inquisitive man away, throwing surreptitious glances at Ed.

He seemed subdued, not wasting an extra word beyond the absolute minimum since his blunt diatribe resulting in a shamed exit left stage and had simply but on a sour mood. So much for late-teen angst, Winry thought with a resigned huff. It would be a long day.

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The rest of the trip was unevenful. Mustang was jaded beyond the definition. He could've dropped dead inside the back of the truck despite the dodgy hygiene and interesting smells that told a cache full of old animal tales, excrement included. The rain had all but stopped, a final wring of water from the cheerfully grey cumulus. The truck made the last coast of a hill top and halted by a typical house, equipped with front and back yard, the overflow of weeds that come with one - for free too - and a dog. It was around afternoon,

the time when children were roused from afternoon naps, when tempers frayed from an onslaught of unnatural autumn heatwaves, the time when Pinako usually straightened her legs in the sun. She grunted into her pipe as a truck, peeling blue and grey, pulled up, starting the mutt.

Four figures clambered out of the back and then a fifth emerged on a ramp on a wheel chair. The first three were Winry, Al and Ed. The last two were two unfamiliar faces. Winry hurtled up the front yelling, "Granny, we're baaaack!". Pinako grinned, stood up and drew deeply into the pipe.

"And who're those two?", she said, gesticulating vaguely at the truck.

"Fucked if I knew," came a surly voice. Edward's.

"Nii-san!" Al swatted him irately, on Pinako's behalf, "don't be so rude." Then he creaked in acknowledgement to her question, "that's Colonel Mustang and Lieutenant Hawkeye, his ermm---"

"Dumb underling. Though it should be the other way round," his brother spoke in the most incendiary manner. It didn't work to provoke anyone, other than a spanner and further scolding from the younger Elric.

Pinako grumbled and headed up to Lieutenant Hawkeye and scrutinized her. After a moment of cognition, she slowly nodded. "Yes, yes, I remember you two. Military I believe?"

Riza nodded and helped Mustang out of his wheelchair. He coughed slightly, before reluctantly, and gingerly placed a foot onto the ground. Pinako frowned. This wasn't how she remembered the Colonel Mustang, the very one that had induced Edward into the Militia. He was changed. She sighed inwardly, guessing the story.

"Injured and sick, no? I suppose it was some accident, someone told me." Mustang looked up. Damn, she was like a Sherlock Holmes on a murder case.
"Good afternoon, yes, terrorists. I'm afraid we really had no choice, ma'am. And you know, I'm sure a veritable horde of people would love to see me trussed like a pig on a spit, just to get their backs on as of my condition."

"Understood."

Edward spluttered. "What the hell? You let him in! You must be crazy." To her credit, the aging mechanist ignored him and gestured to the front door. "If that's the case, then I'm more than welcome to accomodate you lot." Like one big family. It had been a while since so many people had resided in the house together. I kind of actually miss that feeling, Pinako mused.

a/n - hoho. Will be in Beijing soon. So don't expect anything new for the time being. I hate myself, this fic is so muddled. I should've planned it out or something.